Cryogenic Pumps Information

Image Credit: Price Pump Company | Almatec | Adixen

Cryogenic pumps are pumps designed to move coolants and cryogenic liquids. They are built to withstand and operate in extremely cold temperatures. Many of these pumps feature hermetically sealed designs to minimize heat leakage from the motor or contamination by process fluids into the cryogenic fluid. Cryogenic pumps are used to circulate coolant in a variety of applications, including cooling high temperature superconducting cables or magnets, for cooling synchrotron beamline crystals, and as pumps in prototype slush hydrogen applications.

Types

Cryogenic pumps come in many different design types, each with its own method of operation, advantages, and preferred applications. For more information on these different types of pumps, visit the Pump Types information page on GlobalSpec.

Designs

Cryogenic pumps are typically constructed in long shaft or submersible designs depending on the system setup and application.

Long shaft cryogenic pumps are designed with the pump motor and mounting flange separated from the pump impeller by a long shaft. The pump impeller is submerged in the cryogen or freezing liquid. This minimizes the leaking of heat from the motor into the frozen or freezing cryogenic fluid. Long shaft cryogenic pumps may be welded or bolted to a variety of cryogenic equipment, including dewars and cryostats.

Submersible cryogenic pumps are frequently used in applications where heat leak is not the most important factor. Submersible cryogenic pumps are used as pumps in vehicles that use liquefied natural gas or in the liquid hydrogen propellant system in a rocket.

Vacuum housing cryogenic pumps have impellers mounted in a vacuum case or housing to provide a barrier between the motor and cryogenic fluid. They are used in extremely cold environments and where extremely low heat leak is required.

Specifications

The primary specifications to consider when discerning cryogenic pump performance are flowrate, pump head, pressure, horsepower, and operating temperature. For an explanation of these specifications and pump performance curves, visit the Pump Flow information page on GlobalSpec.